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A Nata is often used to describe a flaky puff Portuguese pastry with a special custard type creme brulee filling...mmmmmm!
If you know me, you know I am an absolute sweet fiend! I adore desserts. I also love giving endearing nic-names to friends and family....and even I've picked up a few along the way.
There's Nat, Naddles, Noodley, Nate-Dog, Senator, Natality, Magoofalus-Majunkthalus-Macaroni (all the really weird ones are coined by my little brother Zachary; thanks bro), boom-boom (from recreational softball days in Chino), Nad, PersoNatalie, Vanilla Bean, which turned into 'Nilla, and then Cake (apparently I smelled like cake), then of course there is Crazy, and before they start getting too bizarre, let's get straight to the name of names, "Nata". One of my best friends, Val (Dr. Valerie Chavez) started calling me "Nata Pata" which seemed appropriate due to all my silly stories about my feet (ask me, I'll tell you....they are one of my favorite parts of my body because they are so tough....not too cute....but tough).
Anyway, noticing that Natas are Portuguese pastries, my face lit up.....how cute!!! How yummy!
And I have loved every minute of my involvement in the U.P.E.C. (oldest Portuguese Union in the state of California and Nevada; non-profit, fraternal benefit society), especially when I was Queen for 1997-1998 for Joe and Carolina Vargas of Half Moon Bay, Ca. I had wanted to be Queen since my very first festa parade when my sisters, cousins and I got to hold the capes of the older Queens. It was a dream come true.
As Portuguese people, and especially Portuguese women, we look up to and are inspired by Santa Isabella of Portugal; attributing many miracles around her reign. She did not preside over her people, she worked with them; she fed them; she shared what she had with the poorest of the poor, with the elderly, the sick and especially the children.
I had envisioned my Supreme Presidency as a year of "sweetness," "goodness," "sharing, giving, and working together creating many small miracles."
My friends, our year together is RIGHT NOW!
The Reign of Nata is not about me, it's about US, and what we can do together with the right attitude. The Reign of Nata is not just for now, but for all time, because it is all about what is sweet, good and nourishing and what will sustain a people to live together in Joy, Peace and Progress!!
So enjoy, eat dessert first!
Natas for everyone in Palm Springs, July 31-August 5 2009
To be sweet is to be strong.......find what you love and fill your life with that!!
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